Trail towns to get upgrades via state grants
Published 6:05 am Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Bikers travel along the Mammoth Cave Railroad Bike and Hike on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, as Park City Tourism considers adding interpretational signage that explains more of the trail. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Cyclers park their bikes to walk a loop of the Mammoth Cave Railroad Bike and Hike on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, as Park City Tourism considers adding interpretational signage that explains more of the trail. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
A sign for Brownsville’s certified Trail Town stands outside the Edmonson County Courthouse on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
A sign points visitors to a boat and kayak ramp to Green River, one of the National Water Trails, at Nolin Lake State Park on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
A kiosk of tourism pamphlets stands inside the Edmonson County Courthouse to share information with visitors about Brownsville’s certified Trail Town cycling, horseback, hiking and water trails on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
A tack board outside the Edmonson County tourism office in the county’s courthouse shares information about Brownsville’s certified Trail Town cycling, horseback, hiking and water trails on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Signs mark the pathway for and share information on the Mammoth Cave Railroad Bike and Hike on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, as Park City Tourism considers adding interpretational signage that explains more of the trail. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
The sun shines down on the Mammoth Cave Railroad Bike and Hike on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, as Park City Tourism considers adding interpretational signage that explains more of the trail. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Bikers travel along the Mammoth Cave Railroad Bike and Hike on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, as Park City Tourism considers adding interpretational signage that explains more of the trail. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
BY DAVID MAMARIL HOROWITZ
david.horowitz@bgdailynews.com
Kentucky is providing tourism commissions $30,000 grants to upgrade four areas they oversee in southcentral Kentucky known as trail towns — places near trails that offer lodging, meals, supplies, guides and more.
On Thursday, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that 19 trail towns statewide received grants that total more than $540,000 to support tourism and recreation by funding the repair, enhancement or promotion of projects.
“Our Kentucky Trail Town communities play a big role in contributing to Kentucky’s $13.8 billion tourism industry, highlighting the best outdoor recreational experiences across the commonwealth,” Beshear said in a statement.
In Brownsville, the grant will allow for an upgraded, larger trail town signage kiosk at the county square courthouse and weather-resistant benches, Edmonson County Tourism Director Vanessa Ulm said. It’ll also provide for signage at the city’s north and south entrances as well as research for installing ADA-accessible ramps along the Green River at two kayak and canoe launch points, she added.
Ulm added that Edmonson County encompasses the largest portion of Mammoth Cave National Park, including a lengthy part of the Green and Nolin Rivers Blueway — the commonwealth’s first and only National Water Trail.
“Our county’s natural terrain offers an abundance of trails for hiking, mountain biking, cycling, paddling, caving, horseback riding, and even off-roading,” Ulm said.
Cave City and Horse Cave Tourism are discussing the possibility of using a portion of the funds for interpretive signage within the entity’s segment of the John Muir trail, Horse Cave/Hart County Tourism Executive Director Sandra Wilson said.
“As we go into analyzing the ideas that we had, we will begin to figure out exactly what the most efficient use of the funds is,” Wilson said.
Meanwhile, one of Park City Tourism’s considerations is trail development such as interpretational signage that explains what people are seeing at the Mammoth Cave Railroad Hike & Bike Trail, Park City Tourism Executive Director Linda Watts said.
“This is life-changing money for us,” Watts said. “We’re one of the smaller commissions in the state. That’s more revenue than we make in one year.”
Munfordville Tourism plans to use its grant for more wayfinding signs across roadways to help people understand where the trails are, commission Executive Director Aaron Jaggers said. For example, signs along 31-W could guide people toward Green River Walking Trail, the 4.5-mile route that runs along the Green River.
The commission also plans to make that trail more user-friendly and safer through upgrades such as the addition of rails, tree maintenance and gravel, he added.
Jaggers also plans to add markers every eighth of a mile so people can identify their location if they need to call for assistance. And, he aims to add that type of marker along the Green River itself for those who may be canoeing, fishing or boating through the river.
Munfordville Tourism also aims to add benches and garbage cans along the historic Munfordville Walking Tour as well as informational signs at each historic location along that tour, Jaggers said.
